ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR ALL
Driving more footfall to Telford and Wrekin’s high streets High streets across the UK continue to face significant challenges. Suppor ting business growth
The council remains committed to supporting local businesses and creating vibrant high streets which residents and businesses can be proud of. Here’s just one example of a business in Madeley, Crown Print & Design, which has received support from the Pride in Our High Street programme and continues to grow and prosper.
So what’s the secret to bucking this trend? The council’s Pride in Our High Street programme continues to support businesses across the borough, helping them to grow and flourish, and encourage people to shop local and support local independent businesses on their doorstep. Since 2018, the programme has awarded a total of 367 grants and helped 65 businesses to set up on the high street through Pride in Our High Street start-up grants. Through the programme, businesses have also been given other funding to drive more footfall and attract more visitors to towns. That funding includes 79 eco grants to help businesses become more sustainable, 43 façade grants to improve shop frontages and enhance the overall appearance of high streets, and 19 digital grants to equip businesses to trade effectively in the digital arena. Pride in Our High Street continues to make great progress tackling empty shop units and breathing new life into the borough’s high streets.
Increased costs, online shopping and the attraction of supermarkets and out of town shopping facilities have all had a huge impact on high street businesses. However, Telford and Wrekin continues to buck the national trend for empty retail units on our high streets with just 3.8 per cent of units across the borough’s towns standing empty compared to 14 per cent nationally (Local Data Company).
Crown Print & Design relaunched in Madeley after the lease on its former Donnington unit ended thanks to a Pride in Our High Street start-up grant which has enabled owner Dumitru Savu to expand his business considerably. Established in 2021, the business is now based at Madeley Shopping Malls, on Madeley High Street and offers a wide range of printed products and gifts such as business cards, uniforms, leaflets, signs and many more Dumitru said: “We had been looking to improve our high street position in the borough for some time. “We looked at several available high street units and Madeley Shopping Malls was the most suitable and affordable option for us to enable sufficient company growth and sustainability. “We’re really grateful to Telford & Wrekin Council for supporting us with a start-up grant to make this move possible which is greatly supporting our business growth.”
You can find out more about the Pride in Our High Street programme www.telford.gov. uk/prideinourhighstreet
TOTALLY TELFORD
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